Franco-Cameroonian defender William Saliba explains decision to extend Arsenal contract

France international of Cameroonian descent William Saliba says the decision to extend his contract with Arsenal is influenced the desire to win laurels at the club.

Saliba, whose current contract was set to expire in summer 2027, has signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2030.

The rock-solid defender was a transfer target for Real Madrid, who were eyeing a move for Saliba in 2027 as a free agent.

However, the Premier League giants has swiftly offered the defender a long-term deal, fending off interest from Real Madrid.

Saliba in an interview that it is very tempting when a club like Real Madrid shows interest, but insists his focus remains on winning titles with Arsenal.

“Of course, it’s really tempting when such a club is interested in you, but I wanted to win titles with Arsenal first before thinking about anything else,” Saliba told Telefoot

Saliba began his professional career with Saint-Étienne, where he progressed through the academy and eventually broke into the first team in the 2018-19 season, making 23 appearances in various competitions.

After officially joining Arsenal in the summer of 2019, he returned to Saint-Étienne on loan for the 2019-20 season, helping the team reach the 2020 Coupe de France final.

Upon his return to London, Saliba collected a Community Shield winner’s medal with Arsenal after defeating Liverpool in August 2020.

He then continued to gain experience by returning to the French league via a short loan with Nice in January 2021, before joining Marseille on a one-year loan the following season, where he displayed impressive performances that made him a key member of the defensive line.

His brilliance led him to win the Best Young Player award in the French League, and he was also selected in the ideal squad for the 2021-2022 season.

Saliba’s first competitive appearance for Arsenal came in the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace in August 2022, when the team won 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

Just two weeks later, he scored his first goal for the team with a stunning left-footed strike against Bournemouth, in a 3-0 victory for Arsenal.

Since then, Saliba has become Arsenal’s primary defensive partner, with the team boasting the strongest defence in the last two Premier League seasons, earning him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons.

Internationally, Saliba first joined the French national team in March 2022 and has since made 28 appearances for Les Bleus. He participated in the 2022 World Cup and started every minute of his country’s Euro 2024 campaign, leading France to the semi-finals and earning a spot in the tournament’s All-Star Team.